Plight of the Northern Province Muslims Post War Resettlement failure

(M.S. Mohamed Jansin)

In Sri Lanka the Muslim Community constitutes nearly 1.9 million persons which 9.5% of the total population of Sri Lanka which is 20.2 Million as of 2012 population statistics.  Muslims from the ancient time contribute to the progress of the country in every field.

With the advent of the foreign colonial  powers  the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, the Muslim community suffered as change in their status from which they never regained again. These colonial powers promulgated harsh regulations in order to suppress Muslims because early Muslims bitterly opposed undiluted policies and proselytization. As a result of this policy the Muslims of Sri Lanka remained culturally isolated, educationally backward and economically retarded. 

Muslims have been holding important posts in the various national government bodies. Even in the North and East, Muslims cooperated with the Tamil parties, until Tamil militants started to suppress Muslims from 1985 onward. Participation of Muslims in the Tamil parties decreased  after major tamil parties demanded separate homeland for Tamils called ‘Tamil Ealam’.

MUSLIMS AND TAMIL ARMED MOVEMENTS

The armed conflict between Tamil armed Movements and the Government Forces can be traced back to 1983. The Muslims living particularly in the North and East provinces were able to maintain complete neutrality over the problem and were least affected ethnic group during the first phase of ealam war  (1983 to 1985). However, in 1985 they have been caught up in the internecine fighting in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and have been innocent victims to various Tamil armed  groups. The harassments that Muslims have   been subject to by Tamil armed groups from time to time during this period were aimed at –

(1) weakening the economic establishment of Muslims (2) To eliminate emergence of Muslim youth leadership in the region (3)To suppress the renaissance among Muslims in the fields of religious and educational fields and (4) to keep the Muslim Community as a subordinate minority under the command of Hindu Dominant Tamil majority. 

 To achieve these targets they hatched many conspiracies against North and East Muslims in many ways. They abducted Muslim youths and murdered them. They killed prominent leaders of Muslims to eliminate Muslim power. They killed  Government Agent of Mannar  M.M Makbool , Village Council Chairman, religious leaders like Abdul Azees  Jaleel was killed in July 22, 1986 in Jaffna and political party leaders M.H.M. Asraf the  Founder SLMC. Members. On the 3rd July 1990, During the  Eid- Ul- Fithr Festival days U.L. Dawood , the member of Citizen Committee of the Batticaloa District, and the Cluster Principal of Alighar Central school of Eravur, Al Haj M.L.A Gafoor .J.P and Quazi and his father in law U.L. Ali Mohamed were kidnapped and killed by the armed LTTE cadres. On 30th of January 1990, A SLMC provincial councilor of North east Provincial Council , M.Y.M.Mansoor was shot by the LTTE and later his corpse was removed from the Kalmunai General Hospital by the LTTE. The LTTE also killed five Muslim patients in a private hospital and abducted 10 people, including a doctor on the same day. 

Muslim business establishments were looted and millions of worth of belongings taken away. Muslims were also forced to pay large amounts of  ransom and taxes either in paddy or money. 

Enter the I.P.K.F

Under the J.R. – Rajiv pact called the Indo – Sri Lankan agreement in 1987, the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (I.P.K.F) were stationed in the North and East of Sri Lanka. With the entry of the I.P.K.F. the situation of Muslims in the North and East went from bad to worse. In 1987-1989, leading Muslims villages in North and East were attacked and looted, their vehicles were abducted  by most of the Tamil armed groups. After the formation of North-Eastern provincial Councils Tamil youth as well as Muslim youth were forcibly taken for arms training. Those who opposed were severely assaulted. Even family members and Muslim women were assaulted by Tamil armed groups. Later LTTE taken into their custody,  the forcibly trained Muslim boys and killed them.  Badursaman Ramseen and  Ajwath are few of the Muslims killed in such a way. 

After I.P.K.F

After I.P.K.F. left the country in March 1990 peace prevailed only for three months. On 11th June 1990 the war between the L.T.T.E. and the Sri Lankan Forces recommenced. After that the L.T.T.E. attacked many Muslims villages and massacred hundreds of them. Some of the major massacres are,

Date Place of incidents Muslims Killed Wounded

1990 June 11th Eastern Province Police stations More than 400 20

1990 July 14th   Ondachimadam Eastern 60 -

1990 Aug 3rd Kattankudy Mosque Massacre 103 75

1990 Aug 12th Eravur Massacre 122 62

1992 Oct 15th Alinchipotana (Polannaruwa) 190 40

Sources: Newspapers of Sri Lanka and the reports of the Amnesty International.

Expulsion of N.P.Muslims

On October 23rd 1990, it was announced over loud-speakers to the approximately 43,000 Muslims living in Mannar that they must vacate their homes, villages and towns leaving behind all their wealth and valuables or face death at the hands of the L.T.T.E subsequently about 32,000 Muslims Living  in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Jaffna were ordered by the L.T.T.E to vacate their premises sans any belongings. 

Step By Step Ethnic Cleansing

On October 15th 1990, around  500 Muslims from Chavakachcheri, concentrated mainly on Dutch road were forced to leave at gunpoint,. They were told to go beyond Vavuniya the southernmost town of the Northern province. The Chava Muslims reached Vavuniya on Oct 18th.  The chain reaction then started. After which LTTE spread a story saying that Muslims were collecting swords to attack them.  What few swords would do against the M16 automatic guns holding 10000 LTTE cadres. This story told by LTTE to manage Tamils there. 

On October 18, 1990 LTTE asked Mullaitive and Thanniyootru to leave their homeland. They were given one day notice. 

 The Muslims in Mannar district comprised 26% of the district population according to the 1981 census. They were 46% of the Mannar Island linked to the mainland by the Thallady causeway . On Oct 21st 1990, Erukkalampitty, the premier and relatively prosperous Muslim village on Mannar Island was surrounded by around 300 tiger cadres and were robbed of cash, jewellery and valuable electronic goods. Around 800 -  850 houses were targetted.

On Oct 22nd some Muslims from Marichukkatty village near the Mannar - Puttalam district border  were arrested by the LTTE  for allegedly having clandestine dealings with the armed forces and were ordered to leave the next day. This was followed by an eviction order  on Oct 24th to all muslims in the Musali AGA division, with a Muslim majority, where  Marichukkatty is situated.

The expulsion  process continued on Oct 24th with the LTTE making loudspeaker announcements ordering all Muslims living in Mannar Island to leave  by Oct 28th and demanding them to report to the local LTTE office to finalise the procedures of  expulsion. The helpless Muslims began packing and on Oct 26th the LTTE “invaded” Erukkalampitty again and seized the packed belongings of these Muslims.

Jaffna Muslims were given  just 2 hours notice to vacate their area on the 30th of October 1990. On 2nd November 1990 the population of Northen Muslims was zero except the 55 prisoners of whom 33 Muslims were  being held captive by the L.T.T.E and nothing is known about the fate of these 33 people for 19 years until May 19,2009 on which day the Sri Lankan army clear the entire north. Now it is confirmed that they all were brutally  killed by the LTTE after the expulsion of Muslims. 

Up to the brutal expulsion of Muslims the relationships between Tamils and Muslims in this region had  been cordial and friendly for many decades. When the L.T.T.E expelled the Muslims from the North all valuables and moveable and immovable properties were forcibly removed from them at gun point. The fleeing Muslims were checked at all the exit points by the L.T.T.E cadres for any valuables they may have taken along with them.

After the expulsion, the settlements were empty and all Muslims who lived there have  become refugees and were living elsewhere in refugee camps. Immediately after the ethnic cleansing, evicted Muslims were living in more than 200 refugee camps and at relatives, friends and rented houses. There are 160 refugee camps containing an estimated 45,000 refugees in puttalam district alone. These refugee life had continued for many years for these Muslims.  Anuradhpura, Gampaha, Kurunegala and Kalutara districts are others where large numbers of refugees are living. There were four Muslim refugee camps in Colombo, too. Presently there is one refugee camp in Mattakuly Colombo consisting Jaffna Muslim.  In 2013 there are around 22 camps consisting displaced Jaffna Muslims alone. 

Apart from the psychological shock and pain, the economic loss suffered by the Northern Muslims as a result of forced displacement is considerable.

Economic losses

During the expulsion muslims left behind all their moveable and immovable properties.  128 mosques, 26 holy places, 189 schools of Arabic teaching, 65Government schools, more than 25,000 acres of agricultural land and properties, 2395 commercial and industrial establishments, more than 15,000 houses and household items and more than 40,000 domestic and farm animals were taken by the LTTE.

According to the data collected through research projects carried out at all refugee camps by Dr. S.H. Hasbulla it is estimated that 8.3 billion rupees worth of moveable and immovable properties were lost by Northern Muslims.  The following table shows the economic losses of Northern Muslims in estimated value:-

Details Estimated total losses

1 Household , land and houses 5,408 M

2 Losses in respect of establishments 2,107 M

3 Losses in respect of coconut lands 180 M

4 Losses in religious institutions 640 M

Total losses in millions Sri Lankan Rupees 8,335 M

Aftermath

The  expulsion still carries bitter memories amongst Sri Lanka's Muslims. In 2002, International media were criticizing LTTE for  the expulsion of Muslims from the North. There has been a stream of Muslims travelling to and from Jaffna since the ceasefire. Some families have returned and the re-opened Osmaniya College had 75 students in 2003.   After the complete defeat  of the  LTTE in May 19, 2013, now Muslims are slowly resettling in Jaffna. Up to now more than 450 families have resettled there. Another 2000 families have expressed their willingness to resettle in Jaffna provided their homes are rebuild or they are given houses. Similarly more families are ready to resettle in Mannar, Mullaitive, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya Districts. According latest news of 2013 there are  12 Mosques are functioning again in jaffna . Mankumban, Nainative, Chavakachcheri, Kodikaamam and Point Petro masjids are also functioning now. Totally 17 Masjids are operational now except one in Jaffna Moor street. Latest report about the other districts not available. 

The Jaffna   Osmaniya College is now having  450 students and around 2000 Muslims are presently living in Jaffna Moor Street alone.  There is a floating population of about 2000 Muslims in Jaffna. Around 1000 are Jaffna Muslims, while the rest are Muslim traders from other areas. About 20 Muslim shops are functioning and the numbers are growing

Post war Resettlement and Present Population

The Muslim population in the Northern Province and their percentage in the respective districts according to the 2012 census is as follows. Mannar 16,087 (16.2%), Vavuniya 11,700 (6.8%) &, Jaffna 2139 ( 0.4%) Mullaitivu 1760  (1.9%), Kilinochchi 678 (0.6%). Compared to estimates at the time of expulsion in 1990 the Muslim population has shown a marked decrease except in Vavuniya which was not totally affected. The present Muslim population in the Northern Province is only 32,396 or 3.061%.

 In October 1990 the population was around 75 000. Mannar 43,000,  Vavuniya 7,000 &, Jaffna 20,000 Mullaitivu 4,000, Kilinochchi 1,000. A Large portion of the Muslims still to resettle in their home of origin. But conditions in their homeland is not satisfactory for them to resettle. A Large number of houses have been damaged due to looting activities of thieves. Some houses have been brought to ruins. Masjids, Schools and houses were damaged beyond recognition. People need at least 1 million rupees to reconstruct their houses. These conditions have affected   eagerness of Muslims to resettle in their hometowns. Many people are disappointed after seeing their properties.  Further the government is not providing any resettlement assistants to Jaffna Muslims to reconstruct their houses. 

Now resettlement of Muslims is in the hands of Northern Provincial Council ruled by Tamil National Alliance (TNA).  TNA should do whatever possible action to resettle these Muslims in their Original places. We understand that the Chief Minister C.V. Wickneswaran has already initiated steps to reconstruct the damaged houses belongs to Jaffna Muslims to resettle them. If the TNA is successful in reconstructing the houses of Muslims it will help to gradually wipe up the bad memories that Muslims experienced in the hands of LTTE. The remedial action by TNA will change history. People are waiting for that time to come.